Verbena

Forms Available: essential oil

Verbena – lippia citriodora – Green, vegetative, herbaceous, warm, floral scent with some lemon and citrus notes. Indicated for stress, insomnia, depression, and nervous fatigue. Powerful anti-inflammatory; fever reducer. If inhaled, it is a powerful sedative. Has hormonelike action on the thyroid and pancreas. Works on the digestive system, especially controlling stomach spasm and cramp, nausea, indigestion and flatulence. Stimulates the appetite. Recent pharmacological tests have proven this oil to be phototoxic and a strong skin sensitizer. Not recommended for massages. Blends well with basil, bergamot, chamomile, geranium, neroli, rose, and rosemary.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Indicated for stress, insomnia, depression, and nervous fatigue. Powerful anti-inflammatory; fever reducer. If inhaled, it is a powerful sedative. Has hormonelike action on the thyroid and pancreas. Stimulates appetite.

Vertivert

Vetivert -vetivera zizanioides – Also called Khus-khus. This perennial grass grows in dense clumps of stout stems with long leaves and has an aromatic rhizome and roots. The distilled root essential oil flavors Asian sherbets and sweets, fixes perfumes, and scents quality soaps, cosmetics and aftershaves. The scent is a deep yet refreshing, woody, resinous mixture of myrrh and violets.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Acne; Cuts; Oily Skin; Wounds; Arthritis; Muscular Aches and Pains; Rheumatism; Sprains; Stiffness; Debility; Depression; Insomnia; Nervous Tension. Known as the “Oil of Tranquillity”. Key Qualities: Sedative; Soothing; Calming; Tonic.

Other Uses: Vetivert root is burned to overcome evil spells. It is also used in love powders, sachet and incenses and is added to the bathwater in a sachet to make yourself more attractive to the opposite sex. Vetivert is also used in money spells and mixtures.

Vervain

Vervain – verbena officinalis – Also known as Enchanters Herb, Holy Herb, Verbena, Blue Vervain, and Holy Wort. A Druid sacred herb, common in their many rites and incantations, this hardy perennial has deeply cut lower leaves and smooth upper leaves with small dense spikes of pale lilac-pink flowers. An ancient sacred herb of purification, visions, and love potions, it was included in liqueurs and aphrodisiacs. Vervain was so highly regarded by the Druids that offerings were placed on altars.
“Vervain” is a derivative of the Celtic fer -to drive away, and faen -stone, given to it because of its ability to purge calculi, gravel, from the bladder. A tea of the herb helps to increase breast milk and is helpful in lowering fever, especially of the intermittent type. It will benefit eczema and other skin eruptions. It is a kidney and liver cleanser. Jaundice, whooping cough, edema, mastitis, and headaches fall under its sphere. To make the tea, steep one tablespoon of the herb per cup of water for twenty minutes.
Externally, vervain is used in poultices for ear infections, rheumatism and wounds. Vervain is an emmenagogue -brings down the menses- and soothes the nerves. It is reputed to have aphrodisiac properties. It is a powerful lymphatic detoxifier and has a cleansing effect on the female organs.
Blue Vervain -Vervena hastata, the American variety, is a natural tranquilizer and is helpful with colds and fevers, especially when the upper sespiratory tract is involved. It will eliminate intestinal worms and is used externally for wounds. It is deistinguished from the European vervain by its deeper blue flowers and denser, bristly flower spikes. Blue vervain is also prepared in a standard infusion or tinctured in alcohol.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A tea of the herb helps to increase breast milk and is helpful in lowering fever, especially of the intermittent type. It will benefit eczema and other skin eruptions. It is a kidney and liver cleanser. A powerful lymphatic detoxifier.

Other Uses: Use for Anointing; Banishing; Gather and burn at Litha; Altar Offering; Creativity; Energy; Strength; Power.

Viburnum

Viburnum – viburnum opulus – the fruit from this plant can be eaten raw or cooked as a cranberry substitute. It was used by some Native American Indians for general body cramps. This plant is highly antispasmodic. It relieves cramps of all kinds: menstrual cramps, asthma, colic, spasms after childbirth and general body cramping. It is also used to treat high blood pressure.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An antispasmodic herb – treats cramps of all kinds. A muscle relaxant. Relieves: menstrual cramps, colic, asthma, general muscle spasms.

Violet

Violet – viola odorata – Also called Heartsease, Little Faces, and Viola. This stemless perennial has scalloped, heart-shaped leaves and violet or white, sweetly scented flowers from winter to spring. The crystallized flowers flavor sweets and liqueurs and are tossed in salads with the leaves. The root treats bronchitis. The leaves are a folk remedy for breast and lung cancer. The flower syrup is antiseptic and a mild laxative, and with the leaves treats coughs, headaches, and insomnia. Ancient Greeks wore the violet to calm tempers and to induce sleep
The whole plant is used, fresh or dry. The leaves can be eaten as a type of wild spinach, and the flowers are used in salads and desserts. High in iron, the fresh leaf is used internally and externally for cancer, especially of the colon, throat, and tongue. For this purpose, the fresh laves should be infused daily and taken as tea; using one teaspoon of plant parts to a half cup of water, steep and take a quarter cup four times a day. The tea can be applied externally as a fomentation. The flowers are laxative; the roots and stems are emetic and purgative. The fresh leaves are used in salves and poultices for wounds.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The flowers are laxative; the roots and stems are emetic and purgative. The fresh leaves are used in salves and poultices for wounds.

Other Uses: Violet crowns are said to cure headache, bring sleep, and calm anger. Violets are mixed with lavender, apple blossoms, yarrow, and roses in love potions. The leaf is a protecion from all evil. Use for: Protection; Luck; Love; Lust; Wishes; Peace; Healing

Virgin’s Bower

Virgin’s Bower – clematis virgiana – This is a very corrosive plant if used, either internally or externally, in it’s raw state. It should be boiled and dried before use. Has been used, externally, to relieve eczema and itching skin conditions and internally, to relieve headache, toothache, and the pain associated with uterine diseases, cystitis, urethritis and gonorrhea.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: This herb must be dried and boiled before use. Has been used, externally, to relieve eczema and itching skin conditions and internally, to relieve headache, toothache, and the pain associated with uterine diseases.

Virginia Creeper

Virginia Creeper – parthenocissus quinquefolia – This plant is astringent, diuretic, expectorant and tonic. Poultices and washes can be applied, externally, to reduce inflammation and relieve itchy skin rashes such as poison ivy. A tea, made from the roots, has been used to treat diarrhea and gonorrhea.
The tea has also been used to treat jaundice.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The leaves make a wash that can be used on poison ivy rash and inflammations. A tea, made from the roots, has been used to treat diarrhea and gonorrhea.

Vitex

Vitex – vitex agnus-castus – This herb is “a women’s herb”. Vitex regulates the female reproductive system: restores menstruation, relieves premenstrual syndrome, relieves the symptoms of menopause, restores hormonal balance, and stimulates the growth of the lining of the uterus.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: “A women’s herb”. Regulates the female reproductive system, relieves premenstrual syndrome, stimulates the growth of the lining of the uterus.

Walnut Oil

Forms Available: oil

Walnut Oil – juglans regia – Very unsaturated, walnut oil presents good moisturizing, anti-aging, regenerative, emollient and toning properties. This oil is obtained from walnut kernels by cold expression and subsequent refining. Walnuts are unique among nuts because the essential fat they contain is primarily polyunsaturated -the source of omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts contain a host of other important vitamins and minerals. Walnut oil is a clear, grease less, penetrating oil, that is a rich source of fatty acids essential to maintaining the skin’s cellular integrity. Walnut oil is not a cooking oil; high heat destroys its delicate flavor. Where it does shine is as an ingredient in a salad dressing or a fresh pasta sauce. It can be used in any cosmetic product as an active principal or as a carrier in the oily phase, without any proportion limit.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Very unsaturated, walnut oil presents good moisturizing, anti-aging, regenerative, emollient and toning properties.

Watercress

Watercress – nasturtium officinale – Watercress leaves are eaten either raw or cooked. The flavor is strong and hot. The seed can be ground and used as a mustard. This plant is a well known medicinal plant, it has a high level of vitamins and minerals and is a cleansing herb. It’s main quality is that of a diuretic and detoxifier – it’s use flushes the body of excess fluid and toxins and cleans the blood resulting in the breaking and shifting of kidney stones and the clearing up of skin problems such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. It is a liver tonic, promoting the production and flow of bile. It prevents the build up of flatulence and relieves indigestion. Externally, in a poultice, the leaves are crushed and applied to relieve rheumatism and gout.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A diuretic plant, cleansing and purifying the body of toxins and excess fluid. A tonic for the kidneys and bladder. Expectorant, loosening and shifting phlegm so relieving coughs and lung congestion.